#ScienceAtSea

Archive: March 31 Reddit "Ask Us Anything"

Mapping Reefs and Fish: chat with NOAA scientists at sea in the U.S. Virgin Islands aboard the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster.

From March 28-April 7, NOAA scientists conducted a research expedition in the U.S. Virgin Islands aboard the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster. This was the 12th consecutive year of an effort in the Caribbean to map a sprawling coral reef ecosystem that is home to an amazing variety of ocean life.

Ask Us Anything!

Meet ecologist Chris Taylor (left) and oceanographer Tim Battista. From March 28-April 7, Tim and Chris led a research expedition in the U.S. Virgin Islands aboard the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster. This is the 12th consecutive year of a mission in the Caribbean to map a sprawling coral reef ecosystem that is home to an amazing variety of ocean life.

The science team is using multibeam sonar, scientific echosounder, underwater gliders, a remotely operated vehicle, and other high-tech tools to locate previously-unknown seafloor habitats; to map out coral reefs in fine detail; and to find 'hotspots' where many species of fish gather to spawn in rhythm with the lunar cycle. The data we gather will help people better understand and manage this critically important region of the ocean.

Reddit "Ask Us Anything" Details (Archive):

Who: NOAA scientists Tim Battista and Chris Taylor

What: Reddit Science "Ask Us Anything": Tim and Chris are ready to answer your questions about their research. They will be taking a break from their mission aboard the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster to talk about what it's like to do ocean science on a ship, how high-tech tools allow researchers to see what lies beneath the waves, why we need to better understand coral reef ecosystems ... and to answer anything else you'd like to ask them about their jobs. Ask them anything!